By James Cleaver, Online News Editor
The University of Bristol Snowsports Club (UBSC) have confirmed that their ski trip to Val Thorens will go ahead next year, even if there is a no-deal Brexit.
In a statement, UBSC said: 'In the eventuality of a no-deal Brexit, The University of Bristol ski trip will still go ahead. Our tour operator, Wasteland Ski, has been taking various measures since the initial announcement to ensure the successful running of the trip. Wasteland Ski will be announcing more details soon, ahead of the booking launch.'
At the current rate, on 29 March 2019, by automatic operation of the law, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, with or without a deal. If there is no deal by the end of March next year, there will be nothing to replace our arrangements with the EU in terms of things as varied as air travel and protection of personal data.
The government has published technical notices advising the public what to do if no agreement is reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom. Students taking a coach to the continent, as is done on the ski trip, would face some disruption. While drivers would be forced to pay to acquire an International Driving Permit to drive around Europe, the greatest change for students would be the enormous queues and stringent checks at Dover, which could lead to tailbacks nearly 30 miles long.
'In the eventuality of a no deal Brexit, The University of Bristol ski trip will still go ahead. Our tour operator, Wasteland ski, has been taking various measures since the initial announcement to ensure the successful running of the trip.'
Students should also ensure that they have six months left on their passports before travelling to countries in the Schengen area. Countries inside the EU, but not in Schengen, such as Ireland, will have individual criteria for entry.
Impact on other university trips
The impact of a no-deal Brexit on students' air travel is also thought to have hugely damaging effects. With potentially disastrous and fatal consequences if something goes wrong, air travel is tightly regulated. Currently the UK is part of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) due to its membership of the single market. This body sets regulatory standards for each of the 5,000 component parts which make up an aeroplane, ensuring that it is safe to fly.
In the case of no deal, which means both leaving the single market and failing to set up a mutual recognition agreement covering planes, their component parts and pilots’ licences, any flights between the EU and UK would be in breach of the law. This is the automatic outcome.
'Given that the most essential part of a tour is getting there and back, the impact of a no-deal Brexit on students' air travel could be hugely damaging.'
Both parties continue to insist that a no-deal Brexit is not their preferred scenario, but it is a possibility. It is more likely that the UK and EU would cobble together some sort of short-term agreement – a deal of sorts - allowing flights between them, but even if such agreements are put in place, they might come too late for students flying out to certain trips, such as the ski trip, which is taking place from 19-27 April 2019. It is not just trips to the EU which would be affected. Flights from the UK to the US are legitimised by the EU-US Open Skies agreement. No deal would also put these in jeopardy before a new agreement between the US and UK comes into force.
Greater costs
Another consequence, already visible since the referendum vote, is the increased cost of visiting the continent. The pound’s continued depreciation against the euro has pushed prices of everything up for British holidaymakers, something exacerbated by the increasing probability of no deal. The most obvious consequence of this is an increase in hostel prices.
Roaming charges, abolished by the European Union in June 2017, would return as a result of the UK becoming what is known as a ‘third country’ in relation to EU rules. According to analysis by the price comparison company uSwitch, British travellers to the European Union were spending an average of £61 above home rates before this change. The government has promised to cap the roaming limit at £45 per month if phone companies do not roll over existing deals.
University students might also be forced to take out a health insurance policy as a result of a no-deal Brexit. Currently EU citizens, as well as citizens of countries in the single market but not the EU, have access to reduced/free healthcare in these countries through their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In 2015, there were 215,608 cases of UK citizens using their EHIC card in Europe. With no deal, students wouldn’t have any medical insurance in the EU unless they took out a travel insurance policy themselves.
For our Future’s Sake, an organisation of young people campaigning for a People’s Vote on the final terms of the Brexit deal, have estimated that a no-deal Brexit would increase the cost of a trip to the EU by £190 on average, due to rises in the prices of flights, hotels, health insurance and mobile roaming. While university tours are generally less expensive than normal holidays, the increased costs would remain substantial.
Featured image: James Cleaver / Epigram
